Jeffrey Lopatin's Blog

Filling out a mortgage application may prove to be a long, arduous process, particularly for those who are buying a house for the first time. Lucky for you, we're here to help you dot the I's and cross the T's on your mortgage application to ensure you can quickly and effortlessly acquire your dream house.

Now, let's take a look at three tips to help you prepare your mortgage application.

1. Be Diligent

A mortgage application may appear daunting at first. The application may include several pages of questions, and you may have only a limited amount of time to finalize your submission.

When it comes to completing a mortgage application, it generally pays to be diligent. If you answer each mortgage application question to the best of your ability, you likely will have no trouble moving forward with your home purchase.

2. Avoid Guessing

If you're uncertain about how to respond to certain mortgage application questions, there is no need to guess. Instead, search for the information that you need to provide a comprehensive response. This will help reduce the risk of encountering potential problems down the line that otherwise could slow down your home acquisition.

Remember, guessing on a mortgage application probably won't do you or your lender any favors. But if you allocate the necessary time and resources to understand mortgage application questions and provide thoughtful responses, you can minimize the risk of application errors.

3. Ask Questions

Completing a mortgage application sometimes can be tricky. Fortunately, a lender employs mortgage specialists who are happy to respond to your application concerns or questions at any time.

If you're unsure about information that is requested on a mortgage application, don't hesitate to reach out to a lender's mortgage specialists for help. These specialists possess extensive mortgage expertise and can help you complete a mortgage application.

Furthermore, mortgage specialists can offer insights into a wide array of mortgage options. These specialists can explain the differences between fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages and enable you to select the right mortgage option based on your financial situation.

As you prepare to buy a house, you may want to consult with a real estate agent as well. In fact, with a real estate agent at your side, you can seamlessly navigate the homebuying process.

A real estate agent understands exactly what it takes to acquire a house, regardless of the finances at your disposal. This housing market professional can set up home showings, help you submit offers on houses and ensure you can purchase a residence that matches or exceeds your expectations. And if you need help getting a mortgage, a real estate agent may even be able to connect you with the top lenders in your city or town.

Ready to move forward in the homebuying journey? Use the aforementioned tips, and you can finalize a mortgage application and secure the financing that you need to acquire your ideal residence.

230 MELODY LN,
LARGO, FL 33771

Just Listed

Residential

$100,000

Price

2

Bedrooms

1

Baths

A two bedroom, one bath, one car garage home with a large front yard is available as an opportunity for the first time home buyer or real estate entrepreneur. The home is close to shopping, golf and dining. Just 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport, 45 minutes to college and pro football games as well as major league baseball. The glorious Gulf Of Mexico beaches just 20 minutes away. The Orlando theme parks and outlet malls within 90 minute drive.

Humans have used herbs to season foods for thousands of years. While the most obvious benefit to using herbs is added flavor they are also packed with vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. Fresh herbs are even more nutritious and flavorful than their dried out counterparts lining grocery store shelves. We may think of dried out herb to be more convenient but with a little preparation, you can have access to fresh herbs in your home year long!
Here’s how to create more flavorful, healthier dishes on the cheap without stepping into the seasoning aisle at the store:
Know your directions - knowing which windows are facing north, south, east, and west will set you up for success. The direction your window is facing will determine how well a plant will do there as you will have a guideline as to how much sun that window receives each day. Each plant has it’s own sunlight requirements and knowing how much sunlight is coming through each window will make it easier for you to know which plants will do best in your home. Most herb plants prefer around six hours of sunlight a day and will do well in a southern facing window. You will also want to make sure your plants stay warm and are not in a draft or if in a window, are not directly touching a windowpane.
Pick your pots - Choose pots that have drain holes as most herbs will require moist, but not drenched, soil. Other than that, feel free to get creative with your potting arrangements! This is a great way to add a little decorative interest to a room, so whether you choose a uniquely shaped pot or roll up your sleeves for a little DIY paint project!
Pick your plants - To create your year round supply of herbs look for plants that tout labels of “evergreen” and “hardy.” Plants to look for are chives, mint, cilantro, bay leaves, rosemary, sage, dill, parsley, and lavender. Many of these plants have the added bonus of throwing off wonderful smells so along with fresh seasonings for your cooking you will also have a natural air freshener! Keep in mind that opting for starter plants will get your indoor herb garden rolling along much more quickly than starting with seeds.
Maintenance - When a plant has reached about 6 inches start to cut off around one-third the herbs every so often to use for cooking and maintain a healthy plant. If you cut off any more than one-third you will put your plant at risk of dying. To create an evenly growing plant, turn it every week or so.
While starting an indoor herb garden takes a bit of time and investment to get started the benefits will far outweigh the minimal effort they require. You will not only have more flavorful herbs to season your home cooked meals with, but also plants that throw off a pleasant aroma and add more visual interest to your home!

Although location is one of the most important factors that will impact the marketability of your home, it's not the only thing prospective buyers are thinking about.

If they're organized, focused, and serious about finding the right property for their needs, they've probably developed a detailed checklist of "must haves" and a "wish list."

In all likelihood, those who are working with a real estate agent are being shown properties that conform to their requirements and many of their wish-list items. A comprehensive list would include everything from the number of bedrooms and bathrooms they want to square footage and the quality of the school district.

Many people also have specific preferences about features like floor plans, amount of storage space, the size of the backyard, architectural style, and the availability of a fireplace, patio, porch, deck, eat-in kitchen, two-car garage, and privacy features. Some are even looking for the traditional white picket fence in front of the house!

While your home can't be "all things to all people," it is highly recommended to target the widest possible audience. Your agent, a home staging consultant, or a home decorator can provide you with valuable tips on how to achieve that outcome.

Stand Out and Get Noticed

Just looking good on paper, though, is not always enough to attract motivated buyers. Prospects need to love what they see and be inspired to envision themselves living in your house. Doing what you can to create irresistible curb appeal is one vital aspect of making a great first impression. A manicured lawn, a fresh coat of paint (if needed), and some strategic home staging -- inside and out -- can make all the difference in your results!

Curb appeal is vitally important because that sets the stage, so to speak, for creating high expectations in your prospects. Once you get them in a positive frame of mind, they'll be more inclined to notice all the positive aspects of your home. If your house meets all or most of their requirements and is arranged in a way that's pleasing to them, a purchase offer and negotiations may be right around the corner.

One of the most crucial hurdles to clear in getting prospects to consider buying your house is to help them imagine living, relaxing, raising a family, and pursuing their interests in your home. Your real estate agent can help you effectively stage the interior and exterior of your home to make it inviting and appealing to the widest range of potential buyers.

You can support their sales and marketing efforts by making sure your home is always clean, fresh smelling, and ready to be shown at a moment's notice to house hunters. Doing your best to eliminate clutter, keeping counter tops neat, and making sure pets are on their best behavior (or happily frolicking at the local "doggie daycare" center) can play a key role in winning over interested buyers and successfully selling your home!

Home sellers rejoice! The housing market moves rapidly, which means home sellers who allocate the necessary time and resources to enhance their residences should have no trouble stirring up plenty of interest in their properties as soon as they become available.

Ultimately, navigating the fast-paced housing market can be simple for home sellers – here are three tips to ensure that you can do just that.

1. Focus on Your House's Curb Appeal

For home sellers, it is paramount for your house to make a positive first impression. Otherwise, homebuyers may shy away from your residence if it fails to garner their attention.

Fortunately, it can be quick and easy to revamp your home's exterior and boost your property's curb appeal.

A home seller who mows the front lawn and cleans his or her home's siding can bolster the property's curb appeal instantly. Also, don't forget to clear off walkways and remove leaves and weeds from your lawn to further enhance your home's curb appeal.

2. Price Your Home Competitively

A homebuyer may not even have to set up a home showing to be turned off by your property. In fact, a home seller who sets a high asking price for his or her residence risks alienating potential homebuyers immediately. Conversely, if you set the right asking price from the get-go, you may receive many great offers on your residence when it hits the housing market.

Assess the prices of comparable houses in your area to determine a "competitive" asking price for your residence. By doing so, you'll be able to establish fair market value for your house and improve your chances of a quick home sale.

Don't forget to be flexible with your asking price as well. And don't forget, if a homebuyer submits an offer that falls below your initial expectations, you can always counter this proposal.

3. Work with a Fast-Paced Real Estate Agent

To succeed in today's fast-paced housing market, you need a real estate agent who understands what it takes to list a property and maximize its value at any time. Thus, hiring an experienced real estate agent ensures that you can generate significant interest in a fast-paced housing market.

An experienced real estate agent will be able to promote your residence to the right homebuyers consistently. This real estate professional will go the extra mile to ensure that you can add your property to the housing market and get the best results possible. Furthermore, your real estate agent will address any of your concerns and questions and ensure that you receive the support you deserve throughout the home selling process.

Listing a home in a fast-paced real estate market may seem difficult, particularly for first-time home sellers. But with an experience real estate agent at your disposal, you can overcome any housing market hurdles. This real estate professional will simplify the process of listing your residence, and ultimately, help you optimize your home's value.

Take advantage of the aforementioned home selling tips, and you can minimize the guesswork associated with selling your home in a fast-paced real estate market.